Heralds Digest

“But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭4:38‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mrk.4.38.nkjv The calm action of Jesus in the midst of windstorm and waves on the carriage sea is here mistreated as carelessness by the disciples “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”. Frankly, it is difficult to find alternative action to the concern of the disciples, given that Jesus did not appear to see anything strange in the blowing of wind and wave, especially when disciples are at the centre of God’s will. While wind and wave today are harvested as energy resources for great productivity, they can also be the engine behind great destruction and natural disasters. Whereas, when Jesus said “Peace, be still”, He reveals that the power to control the wind and wave in life is resident in the heart of faith. Faith asks the right question “Master, how do we handle this situation which app...

“But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples.” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭4:34‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mrk.4.34.nkjv The best of inspirational preachers today can hardly do better than preaching in parables in order to appreciably attract the attention of the listening audience. Sermons delivered in familiar languages and illustrated with popular routines like sporting activities, weight loss, weather, etc are often the necessary recipes for attentiveness. But when true disciples find a glorious time to be alone with God, the windows of heaven are always opened for the much more detailed and gracious gist. Unfortunately, the pursuit of the gilded gifts from career progression, high standard of living, occupational security, and the exigencies of life always leave little or no time for the gracious gist with the Lord. Whereas, just a little quiet time with the Giver of life for the gracious gist do explains all things ne...

“Then He said, “To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it? It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth; but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade.”” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭4:30-32‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mrk.4.30-32.nkjv The parable of the mustard seed teaches that little is much when God is relevant in the planning and implementation. When the scriptures say that though your beginning may be small, it is understood that choices of career, partnership, residency, and projects based on econometric gauges could be misleading. It was emphatic that the latter end of pursuing the perfect will of God is always gracious and glorious. Unfortunately, the pursuit of earthly gains brings riches without righteousness, prosperity without peace, and outward comfort without inner contentmen...

“For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭4:28-29‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mrk.4.28-29.nkjv Just as no farmer or sower can explain how scattered seeds on the ground are turned into full ripened grains in the head of crops, transformation from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light by faith is beyond the understanding of man. Notwithstanding, the change and the appearance of the glory of God in a life once dead into sin, destroyed by sickness, and detained by Satan are always unexplainable and indescribable. Yet, faith is the simple requirement from anyone who desires transformation from corruption into righteousness. Without faith, the seed (or the word of God) simply falls on unfruitful grounds (the hearts of men) and produced nothing good and glorious. Therefore, gracious grains are produce...

“Also He said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand? For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light.” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭4:21-22‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mrk.4.21-22.nkjv One of the major challenges of leadership position is the willingness or readiness to compromise personal, family, and general privacy. While a good and honest leader is proud to discuss his private life on the public stand, many public servants are more secure with privileges that guarantee their privacy and confidentiality. Whereas, nations have witnessed the fall of great business, political, and public giants, when their best kept secrets finally come to the public light. Therefore, whether in the shade or along the open light, good leaders at home, fellowship, and the public speak with one mouth and hear with one pair of ears. While good virtue teaches the heart the cho...

“But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable....And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭4:10, 13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mrk.4.10,13.nkjv The response of the Lord to the question of the disciples shows that God is equally concerned about the pressing needs in our lives. For the most time, life is shrouded in pressing parables begging for constant clarifications. And when the challenges of life hit the back against the wall, the residual knowledge and the understanding in man often provide divers strategies for bouncing back into activities until the insufficiency of human ingenuity is eventually acknowledged. When Jesus asked the rhetorical questions “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?”, it was the expression of His concern and an invitation to always call upon the Lord for answer to every question in life. Unf...

“And He said to them, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭4:9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mrk.4.9.nkjv Like in the days of Jesus’ earthly ministry, sermon time provides opportunity for the shaping of life and destiny. Fire-brand preachers would leave no stone unturned to set the pulpit on fire, as long as the people are gathered to listen to the message of life. Unfortunately, the same message with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (seed) often produce divers results in the life of the hearers, depending on whether the seed fall on wayside ground, stone-side ground, thorn-side ground, or good ground of the ears. It implies that either harsh or honest hearing is not dependent on the preparation of the preacher of the word of life (who is the sower); hearing is dependent on the presentation of the heart of the listener. And with conscious determination of the hearer, the heart of man is always prepared for the planting of the word of life through the ears.